He was discussing the continuing investigation into Mr. Nifong's actions and that the department of justice apparently decided to leave it to the state authorities. The link to the origional story is on John's blog, it was broken when I checked it.
I commented on why this was still of interest to the young republicans at Duke. I received the following responses:
Anonymous said...
What would make me happy is to have a full disclosure of the illegal activities that took place on Duke Campus, in Durham Police Department, and at the "labs" of Meehan. What would make me happy is to have the THREADS of the conspiracy revealed.
What would make me happy would be for the guilty to be punished.
I frankly don't care if the State of North Carolina does it ( best case scenario. Gives the GOOD folks a chance to vindicate themselves) or if the Feds do it
( not as good, because it implies that our respected and competent folks can't do it, and that is just not the case)
What would make me happy is JUSTICE for the innocent, and punishment for the guilty.
So, isn't that the way the script is supposed to read????
And this one:
Joan Foster said...
To "Just a thought":
Nifong "screwed" and the innocent "freed and cleared" is all well and good... if one's interest in "justice" is narrowly confined to this one case.
Nifong was not alone. This Hoax was aided and abetted by numerous key players whose ideology, apathy,"old-boy" affability or outright criminality provided Nifong with the means and method to proceed.
Many of these enablers are still in place. Many of these "attitudes" are still at play. We have seen how one rogue prosecutor could masterfully manipulate the system...almost to success and easily incite an enraged local jury to make him a "winner."
The game is still on. The Tricksters gamebook is still viable. THERE HAS BEEN NO REFORM.
Many of us cared deeply about Collin, Reade, and Dave and the outrage they endured. But our concern remains for the next "victims" of North Carolina's legal loopholes. The next victims of Durham's local "justice." The kids who may not have the resources to pay lawyers thousands to uncover suppressed evidence, who may not have the media coverage as witnesses are intimidated, sweet deals are made, line-ups are rigged,procedures are ignored, notes are NOT taken.
Think of how many of these key issues still exist... the secrecy of the N.C. Grand Jury system, the frightening power of a District Attorney, the appalling ability of the media to incite with half-truths, the willingness of the local police to aid and abet a fraud.
So "Just a Thought"...you wish to leave this all in place and have us all leave the field? Leave the corruption all in place for the next kids that fall into their clutches? Because there will be more. People with the moral emptiness to assist Nifong are still in positions of power.The system is unchanged.
Whose sons are expendable? How limited is your capacity for caring? How selective is/was your own moral outrage at a egregious, outrageous, slick and so easily promoted..HOAX...whose successor may well be in the works today?
It's that Bigger Cause, the thought that those who have the least are the most at risk...it's that principle is what keeps many of us clamoring for investigation, accountability, and institutional change.
Quite a response. Wasn't justice done when the lacrosse players were publically cleared of charges? Wasn't justice done when they received their settlement checks (with more to come)? The justice system worked for these boys. They were innocent, they were found innocent, and they were even given money to make up for the prosecutorial indiscretions that kept them in limbo for so long. Justice was done.
As for punishment for the guilty: Mr. Nifong has had his license to practice law revoked, he was fired from his job, and he will probably lose all of his meager possessions in the civil suit. Isn't this punishment? His life is over for what he did. He is going to have a lot of trouble making a living and supporting his family. Was justice done? Yes, he committed a crime, he was found guilty, he is dealing with the consequences.
Ok, now I thought it was mostly left-wingers who were interested in playing conspiracy theory, but I was obviously wrong. If there was a real conspiracy against these boys did someone else call the stripper over? Did someone else deliver the alcohol that was being served to minors? They were not setup from the beginning in a vast Durham conspiracy. A girl they invited to their house made a false allegation, how is the Durham power structure responsible for that? Should they have not believed her? What if you, your wife, girlfried or sister claimed they were raped? I would want the authorities to investigate and find out what happened. It was in the course of the investigation that Mr. Nifong lied to the media and the court. Who else was involved?
The Tricksters gamebook is still viable. THERE HAS BEEN NO REFORM.
You are correct, but the justice system worked. Be glad that the system was proven to work before your very own eyes.
It's that Bigger Cause, the thought that those who have the least are the most at risk...it's that principle is what keeps many of us clamoring for investigation, accountability, and institutional change
Surly you do not intend to say that these boys are "the least"? They had millions of dollars at their disposal to hire the best lawyers. Their excellent legal team got them justice. That is what it takes. Did you ever wonder why so many African Americans are on death row? I don't see you trying to help them clear their names. I don't see you having fundraisers to help them buy effective legal counsel. If you really want to help "the least" that is how you can do it. Going on continued tirade when justice has been served isn't helping anyone.
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